In 2013, a couple rescued a 12-week-old tabby cat. The man and woman, who individually go by the names of “The Bearded Man” and “The Lady, named the cat Matilda.

At first, Matilda looked every bit the normal kitten, but her owners noticed one of her eyes began to squint on a regular basis.

Even after several trips to the vet, no one could explain the source of her eye issues. But then a veterinary ophthalmologist discovered Matilda had spontaneous lens luxation, a genetic eye disorder, meaning her lenses had spontaneously detached. Since she also had a collagen deficiency, she would have a hard time healing from injuries and surgery.

The Lady and The Bearded Man decided to let Matilda’s eyes “do what they naturally would.” They wanted to avoid a traumatic surgery at all costs and, for a while, she took eye drops to relieve any pain.